Queen Suthida completes historic solo Gripen fighter jet flight

Queen Suthida of Thailand completed her first solo flight in a single-seat Saab JAS 39C Gripen fighter jet on October 8, 2026. The 41-minute flight took place at the Royal Thai Air Force’s Wing 7 base in Surat Thani province.

The Queen’s achievement followed a rigorous training program conducted under Royal Thai Air Force standards, which included 45 academic subjects, 20 simulator sessions, and over 10 hours of flight time in a two-seat Gripen D. Upon her successful landing, King Maha Vajiralongkorn was present to present her with a bouquet of flowers and the “Golden Gripen Order” patch, an honor signifying the completion of the aircraft’s qualification process.

Queen Suthida is an experienced aviator, having logged more than 1,188 flight hours across various aircraft types, including Boeing 737s, since beginning her training in 2010. She is recognized as Thailand’s first female Gripen pilot.